Simple and Low-Cost Thermal Treatments on Direct Resin Composites for Indirect Use

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of three low-cost additional thermal treatments, available in the dental office, on the mechanical, chemical and optical properties of a light-cured resin composite indicated for direct restorations but used as indirect restorative. The direct resin composite TPH3 (Dentsply) was light-polymerized using a light-emitting diode curing unit and submitted to three experimental additional thermal treatments: dry heat at 170 °C for 5 min, autoclave at 121 °C for 6 min, or microwave oven at 450 W for 3 min. The resin composite without any thermal treatment was used as negative control group. An indirect resin composite (Vita CM LC, Vita Zahnfabrik) was tested as a reference. Flexural strength, elastic modulus, microhardness, degree of C=C conversion, roughness before and after simulated toothbrush abrasion, translucency parameter and color difference (ΔE00) were evaluated. Data were analyzed at α=0.05. The indirect resin composite presented lower C=C conversion and mechanical performance. The flexural strength was significantly higher in the dry oven group compared with the control. The roughness was not different among groups before or after brushing, but the thermal treatments caused an increase in C=C conversion, microhardness, and elastic modulus without affecting the translucency parameter or showing visible color alteration (ΔE00<1.8). These results suggest that the use of additional thermal methods of polymerization represents an economical and simple alternative to enhance the mechanical and chemical properties of direct resin composites when used as indirect restoratives.